Campbell Brown given the all clear to play for Ballan

CAMPBELL Brown has been given the all clear to play for Ballan in a fortnight, following weeks of conjecture over his appearance in the Central Highlands Football League.

Ballan announced on March 20 that it had lured the controversial ex-Hawthorn and Gold Coast Suns player to the club for a one-off match in round two of the season, before an administrative oversight brought a halt to proceedings.

Campbell Brown in his Hawthorn days.

In a roller coaster saga that threatened to derail his appearance, it was first thought he would be unable to play due a lingering suspension from his AFL days.

However, in a strange twist, it was then revealed Brown was technically still a Suns player, having not been de-listed when he was sacked from the club for punching Gold Coast teammate Steven May on a pre-season camp last year.

That meant the one match suspension he was due to serve had actually been served in round one of the AFL season, as he was actually still a Suns player.

All that remained after that was to be officially released by Gold Coast, which AFL Victoria country football operations manager Gerard Ryan said had occurred early this week.

Barring any further unforeseen circumstances or injury, Brown is almost certain to pull on a Blues jumper in Ballan's first home game of the season on April 12.

Brown will still play for Greta in the Ovens and King Football League on Sunday, before he puts in a clearance to play for Ballan on Saturday week, against Waubra.

In a colourful career, the 205-game veteran made his AFL debut for the Hawks in 2002, where he played 159 games and kicked 64 goals off half back.

He was All-Australian in 2007 and represented Australia in the International Rules Series against Ireland in 2006 and 2008.

Brown left Hawthorn after the 2010 season and was a member of the inaugural Gold Coast Suns team in 2011, where he played 46 games before being released by the Suns in December last year.